The use of polyenaturated fats by athletes of the fitness category in the competitive preparation period

Abstract

During the competitive period, female athletes in the fitness category try to reduce the level of subcutaneous fat using a low-carbohydrate diet, strength and aerobic exercises. Due to heavy loads, untimely recovery, hypocaloric diet, sportswomen can get a decrease in sports results, overtraining, and even injuries. The purpose of the work: to investigate the effect of partial replacement of carbohydrates with polyunsaturated fats in women engaged in fitness during the competitive period of preparation. 17 sportswomen engaged in fitness took part in the study. Among them are 4 masters of sports of Ukraine and 13 candidates to master of sport. The research was conducted during two calendar months, which made up the competitive period. Female athletes were divided into two groups - control (n=8) and experimental (n=9), which did not differ in anthropometric and psychological indicators at the beginning of the study. The control group used a generally accepted low-carbohydrate diet. The experimental group added food products (fatty fish, pine nuts, oils, caviar) to the daily diet in such a way as to additionally receive 1 gram of unsaturated fats per kilogram of the athlete's own body weight every day. Significant differences were found in the indicators of the thickness of skin-fatty folds of the thigh (t=2.28; p<0.05) and abdomen (t=3.17; p<0.01) in favor of the experimental group. In psychological indicators according to the SAN method, EG athletes showed reliably (t=2.82; p<0.05) a better result in the indicator of well-being compared to CG (see Table 2). The result of CG in this indicator was 3.4±0.19 points, EG - 4.2±0.21 points. Conclusions. The use of polyunsaturated fats by fitness athletes in the competitive period of preparation not only does not interfere with getting rid of subcutaneous fat, but also makes this process more effective in comparison with those athletes who use a standard low-carbohydrate diet. The use of polyunsaturated fats in a low- carbohydrate diet has a positive effect on the mood index in the SAN test.